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Dogs Running Loose

By
Real Estate Agent with Roberts Realty

I'm by no means an expert on animal behavior.  But I have a rural mail contract in Joshua Tree that I got primarily for a high school friend to have a job.  I do case mail and run the route from time to time.  Seasoned letter carriers have over the years given some helpful advice if you're on a proeperty and a loose dog approaches you.

First, dilligence is important.  If you see loose dogs approaching, its probably better not to get out of the vehicle.  Some dogs are just playful, although it may seem like they're attacking you.  These are the hardest dogs to shoo away--the more you yell and push them away, the more aggressive they get because this is a game to them and you're just playing with them, so they think.  Contrary to a lot of people's beliefs, Pit Bulls are sometime the most playful dogs when it comes to humans.  Chows are responsible for more dogbites than Pit Bulls.

Some dogs are actually vicious, and will attack.  Its important to note this before they reach you. Get the heck out if you can.  The desert area with all the rural properties that I work in has an immense proplem of dogs running loose.  If there's more than one dog, the pack mentality sometimes kicks in and they will attack when by themselves they are harmless.  I always carry pepper spray, and have had to use it more than once.  Please note that quite often when you spray a dog in the face with pepper, he will immediately start foaming at the mouth, looking even more dangerous. Actually at this point he's probably subdued.  Always aim the pepper right at the dog's face (once while my wife was walking two of our small dogs, a loose dog approached, and she pointed the spray upward, and it came raining down on her, dogs and all.  I remember Mona coming in the door teary-eyed carrying two foaming mouthed dogs. All three got put in the bathtub).

Most dogs, though are simply defending their territory.  Quite often they are just as afraid of you as you of them, although they don't looke like it.  Pepper spray on these dogs is a last resort.  If confronted by loose barking dogs, move slowly back to your car.  Don't scream or make sudden movements.  If you can't safely get away, slowly hold the back side of your hand out in front of them as they approach (not the palm of your hand).  They usually will approach your hand, still barking, and sometimes will press their nose against it to get a good smell.  I have never been bitten or attacked by doing this. I can't guarantee its foolproof, though.

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